Media Release: Alarming Spike in Firearms Used in Family Violence Incidents

Alarming Spike in Firearms Used in Family Violence Incidents

3 June 2026

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb said today revelations from Tasmania Police Budget Estimates Scrutiny hearings that the use of firearms in family violence incidents has doubled over four years is deeply alarming.

“In response to my question during hearings today, it was revealed that since 2021-22 family violence incidents involving firearms has more than doubled from 69 events to 140 in 2024-25,” Ms Webb said.

“This is a shocking and disturbing increase of 103 per cent in the use of firearms in family violence incidents over that four-year period.

“To place that in some context, the total number of reported family violence incidents over the same four-year period increased by 53 per cent.

“This is still a disturbing increase in unacceptable behaviour, but the escalation in the use of potentially lethal weapons as part of that behaviour must be tackled as a matter of urgency.

“Despite all of the recent effort to tackle family violence, this increase in incidents involving the actual or threatened use of firearms is devastating, and points to the urgent need for a consistent, dedicated whole-of-government approach.”

Ms Webb also requested a further breakdown of information detailing the number of reported incidents that involved a registered firearm versus unregistered firearms, but unfortunately Tasmania Police confirmed this information was not recorded in the dataset.

Documentation Tabled in response to Ms Webb’s Question by Tasmania Police, Budget Estimates Scrutiny Hearings, 3 June 2026:

Family Violence Incidents Involving Firearms as a Weapon